Bowing Fundamentals – Violin Technique for Left Hand & Bow

Introduction to Fundamentals

It is important to work on healthy fundamentals not only in the early stages, but to continue to develop them throughout our musical training. Bowing …read more

Ellipse

Try drawing a line using your whole arm, then your forearm only, then just the hand. The result is always a curved line. This explains …read more

Forward & Back

If we use the forearm alone when playing in the upper half, the bowstroke will be crooked. The upper arm should come forward slightly at …read more

Exaggerated Finger Flex

Keep the upper arm still and exaggerate the flexing action of the bow hand. This helps to maintain a straight-enough bow when playing short strokes …read more

Example A

The ‘square position’ is formed when the bow touches the string so that right angles are formed at the elbow, between forearm and bow, between …read more

Example B

Here you see Andrea with her bow in the square position. Please login to view this video.

Example C

Jennen’s bow is in the square position. Please login to view this video.

Heel

Here is the bow position at the heel of the bow. Please login to view this video.

Point

Here is the bow position at the point of the bow. Please login to view this video.

Introduction to Change of Bow

The bow-change action is important for many strokes (fast détaché, forearm sautillé). It is particularly useful when playing at the heel of the bow, although …read more